Green Bay Bait Shops Partner with Fox-Wolf to Stop Aquatic Invasive Species

Local Shops Join Bait Shop Initiative

Bait shop owners in our region are taking steps to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin lakes.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native plants and animals that threaten Wisconsin’s lakes and river systems. AIS are a problem because they harm native species and decrease the economic value of the state’s bodies of water.

In lake communities, like around the Winnebago System, AIS have the potential to harm the local economy by decreasing revenue from tourism and fishing which can directly affect local businesses. Bait shops from Fond du Lac to Green Bay recognize the importance of working together to keep invasive species under control and will be working to share that message with their customers.

Local bait shops have agreed to feature AIS educational materials in their stores and answer customer questions about aquatic invasive species. Two Brown County bait shops joined the effort in 2021; Smokey’s on the Bay and The Reel Thing. They join these other bait shops around the Winnebago region who joined the effort in previous years; Fremont Bait and Tackle and Chico’s Landing in Fremont, Critters Sports in Winneconne, Fish Tales and Fox River Bait & Tackle in Oshkosh, Dutch’s Trading Post and River Haus in Fond du Lac, Rippn-Lips Tackle Company in Stockbridge, and The Reel Shot and the Sportsman in Appleton.

Bait shop owners and employees are in a unique position to share information about invasive species because they interact with boaters and anglers who use area lakes on a daily basis. Moreover, many people often consider bait shop owners to be a trusted source of information especially when it comes to the lakes nearby.

Bait shops in our region team up with the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, University of Wisconsin-Extension, University of Wisconsin Department of Life Sciences Communication and the Department of Natural Resources to share information with boaters and anglers about the threats of invasive species in Wisconsin lakes.

“These bait shops are a trusted source of information for fishing conditions. Hearing about the importance of preventing invasive species from this source helps ensure the message reaches far and wide,” says Chris Acy, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance. Chris provides aquatic invasive species outreach, prevention, and monitoring in Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties.

If you’re a bait shop owner or employee who would like to join this effort, or if you know a bait shop that may be willing to help, contact Chris Acy at chris@fwwa.org or (920) 460-3674.